document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1191230>Question 1191230</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Paula is building a rectangular patio. It will<BR>\n" );
document.write( "have a square flower bed in the middle. The<BR>\n" );
document.write( "rest will have paving stones. The patio will<BR>\n" );
document.write( "have a length of Ax and a width of 3.1x. The<BR>\n" );
document.write( "area of the flower bed will be 3.52. What<BR>\n" );
document.write( "area of the patio will need paving stones? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #823021 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><B>Theo(13342)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=Theo><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=823021\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> capital A is usually used to represent area.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "in this case, i think it might represent the area of the flower bed.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "assuming i'm right, i think the solution to this problem might be as follows:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "length of the patio is Ax.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "width of the patio is 3.1x.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "length and width of the flower bed is x.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the area of the flower bed is 3.52 which is equal to x^2.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "this makes x = sqrt(3.52).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "length of the patio is Ax = 3.52x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "width of the patio is 3.1x.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "area of the patio is 3.52x * 3.1x = 10.912x^2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "since x = sqrt(3.52), then area of the patio is equal to 10.912 * x^2 = 10.912 * 3.52 = 38.41024.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "the area of the patio that will need paving stones will be 38.41024 minus 3.52 = 34.89024.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "that's what i think if my assumption about the value of A is correct.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "if i did not know the value of A, then i would have done the following:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "area of the patio = Ax * 3.1x = 3.1Ax^2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "area of the flower bed = 3.52 = x^2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "area of the patio becomes 3.1 * A * 3.52 = 10.912A\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "area of the patio that needs to be paved would be equal to 10.912A - 3.52.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "i would not know the value of A and could not make any assumptions about its value.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "my assumption that A is equal to the area of the flower bed gave it a value.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "if i was right, then your answer would be that the area of the patio that will need paving stones will be 38.41024 minus 3.52 = 34.89024.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "if i was wrong, then i would have to stick with the area of the patio that will need paving stones will be equal to 10.912A - 3.52.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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